Shortage of uniforms for umpires in Sri Lanka

Umpires in Sri Lanka have been requested to return their uniforms at the end of the ongoing series against India or face a fine.

However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement recently that it had provided the requested number of uniforms to cricket authorities on the island.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have requested the six officials serving as fourth umpires to return their uniforms before August 12 to avoid facing a fine of approximately US$ 38 and $15 per day for each day thereafter.

The umpires were reportedly notified via e-mail by the manager of umpires and match referees in Sri Lanka Carlton Bernardus, who refused to comment on the matter.

According to Channaka de Silva, the sports editor of Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror newspaper, who has previously spoken with Bernardus and reported on the issue, the shortage is as a result of a large number of umpires being given international exposure by SLC.

The ICC, de Silva said, also does not allow its members to manufacture uniforms.

The sport's governing body maintains that it provides “the requested number of uniforms for each series.”

“The amount of umpires’ equipment to be distributed is agreed each year by the ICC in conjunction with the requirements of all member boards,” ICC spokesman Colin Gibson told BBC Sinhala.

“That number is sent to each member board and that board manages its distribution.

“The ICC distributes to all Emirates elite panel umpires and international list umpires as well as match referees.”